French sailor Sebastien Destremau rounded Cape Horn today, 37 days after the winning boat passed the Horn and 84 days since he left France.  Destremau is in 18th and last place in the Vendée Globe race but he did take time out near Tasmania to repair damage to his boat. He said today that he really never expected to do this kind of extreme sailing, never expected to see Cape Horn and as a result is ‘overcome with joy’. Destremau only has 7000 nautical miles to go!  He should be home in about 3 weeks.

Just saying…

Here is a weekday breakfast special too good not to mention. Two Eggs, two strips  of bacon, hash browns, toast, grapefruit wedge,  and refillable coffee.  Delicious!  $9.00 Monday to Friday at LEFTY’S.

Just saying…

It took Armel Le’ Cleac’H 73 days and 3 hours to finish the 24,000 mile Vendée Globe round the world race and take first place. In second is Alex Thomson crossing the finish in 73 Days 19 hours. Jeremie Beyou showed up back in France after 78 days on the water.

Three more boats have now finished the race while the last boat has yet to round Cape Horn. Sebastien Destremou is 18th and more than 8000 miles from the finish. But he is still persevering and will likely finish.

29 boats started, 18 will finish. An epic race with valiant, or possibly slightly mad sailors covering 24,ooo nautical miles all alone on 60 foot racing boats. Just finishing is an accomplishment.

Thanks to fantastic modern communication we have been able to watch the race is some detail from start to finish. For me it was a real treat!  If you want to read about the 1995/96 race in which Canadian skipper Gerry Rouf disappeared, try THE GODFORSAKEN SEA. I just reread it and recommend it to you.

Just saying…

 

 

 

Last Saturday night my media tycoon son from the centre of Canada (TORONTO ) and I tried the BLACK GOOSE for dinner. He had never been and I had only been for lunch a few times in the summer. It’s an interesting place as the building is the old McLure House built in 1921. There are several different rooms in which to sit, a couple of which have cosy fireplaces. Lots of old polished oak throughout. The main room features a very high ceiling. We settled on a table for two alongside a beautiful vintage piano.

The BLACK  GOOSE looks like a pub, behaves like a pub, but is a restaurant, not a pub. Go Figure. Food and beverage orders are placed Pub style, at the bar and the items are delivered to your table. The menu  is mostly hearty pub fare. An assortment of meat pies, fish and chips, burgers, and even a Madras Chicken Curry.

I chose the Cod and Chips and thought they were amongst the best in our part of paradise. Jackson settled on the Shepherd’s Pie, very substantial and, according to him, very delicious. Both were served with a fresh salad.

We both had a pint of lager, one of 19 beers on tap including some hard to find brews from the UK.

In the summer one can enjoy an outdoor grassy patio with a water view above Rathtrevor Beach.

We liked the Black Goose! It is certainly worth a try if you have not dined on Resort Drive. Here is the website wherein you can peruse the complete menu.

http://www.blackgooseinn.com

Their website says the the same family also own the TAPHOUSE RESTAURANT in Nanaimo. They seem to know what they are doing.

Just saying…

On the 73rd  day of the VENDÉE GLOBE race, the leader has less than 300 mikes to go and the #2 boat is only 33 miles behind. Because of winds and currents both boats have passed the French coast and are north of the finish line. They are at the western entrance of the English Channel.

The next 24 hours or less will be difficult due to weather, ship traffic, and Islands. Alex Thomson on HUGO BOSS could catch Armel L’Cleac’h on BANQUE POPULARE III.  Consider that after almost 24,000 nautical miles, the leading boats are 33 miles apart. Truly amazing. 

We will give you the winner on Thursday!

Just saying…

British sailor Alex Thomson Racing today smashed the world record for the greatest distance sailed solo in 24 hours notching up 536.81 miles on HUGO BOSS. This new record awaits ratification by the World Sailing Speed Record Council.

 

Thompson is still in second place aboutj 50 miles behind leader  Armel LE CLÉAC’H who has just over 800 miles to sail to the finish line. Two more days, depending on winds. They are pounding past the coast of Spain and will soon be in the Bay of Biscay.

An exciting finish.

Just saying…

 

 

 

 

My good friend Mike & I have two things in common.  He likes to cook and I like to cook. He likes to eat and I like to eat!  On his recommendation, this morning I made a reservation at BREAD AND HONEY in Parksville and dispatched myself to said emporium of goodness.

It’s a utilitarian space in a little strip mall that happens to turn out some wonderfully delicious food. The Brunch menu is loaded with goodness including Huevos Benedictinos, a slightly spicy Mexican take on Eggs Benny. Muffins with Avocado, Salsa, Chorizo and two perfectly poached eggs topped with amazingly good Hollandaise Sauce.  Plus a nest of finely shredded hash brown potatoes that were perfect.  Oh my!  The best ever.

Tamara, my server, was friendly,  efficient, and charming. She told me the current owners have been in business about two years. Chef/owner Michael Sproul began his culinary career as a 15 year old apprentice at the Longwood Brew Pub in Nanaimo. His successful career included a stint as the Executive Chef at the Beach Club Resort. He was also named a Vancouver Island Chef of the year.

My friend Mike claims that the grilled Ahi Sandwich is the best he has ever had.  That is quite a salute from someone who has eaten his way around much of the world. Server Tamara enthused about the Ruben, made with Brisket, and the Seafood Chowder.  I promised her I would be back to try it.

Bread & Honey has a modest beer and wine list and also serves cocktails.  Mimosas and Bloody Caesars are on the brunch menu.  In addition there is a take out menu.

Eggs Benny to go?  Why not.  One could devour a plateful sitting on a log on Parksville Beach a few steps away.

BREAD & HONEY is a real find.  You must try this joint.  Seriously!

Open for breakfast and lunch only, Wednesday thru Sunday.  Gets really busy so phone for a reservation. 163 Harrison Street in Parksville.  Check out the website and take a look at the menu.

http://www.breadandhoneyfoodco.com/food

I love this place.❤️

Just saying…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My friend Mike tells me I must go for lunch and try the grilled AHI sandwich. The best EVER. he claims. Tamara told me to try the Rueben and the Seafood Chowder and I will.

Bread & Honey is liscenced with a modest selection of beer wine and cocktails.

They also have a take out menu that features soups, salads breakfast sandwiches, and even two varieties of eggs Benny! Who does take out Eggs Benny? I suppose One could and enjoy it sitting on a log on the beach just steps away. Why not!

Bread & Honey is a real gem that you need to try. Open for breakfast and lunch only, Wednesday through Sunday from 8-3. Reservations recommended.
163 Harrison, Parksville.

Just saying…

Sent from my iPhone

t’s a utilitarian space in a little strip mall that happens to turn out some wonderfully delicious food. The Brunch menu is loaded with

Tamara, my server, was friendly efficient and charming. She told me the current owners have been in business about two years. Chef/owner Michael Sprour has previously cooked at Tyna Mara and the Beach Club and has won the Island Chef of the year award.

My friend Mike tells me I must go for lunch and try the grilled AHI sandwich. The best EVER. he claims. Tamara told me to try the Rueben and the Seafood Chowder and I will.

Bread & Honey is liscenced with a modest selection of beer wine and cocktails.

They also have a take out menu that features soups, salads breakfast sandwiches, and even two varieties of eggs Benny! Who does take out Eggs Benny? I suppose One could and enjoy it sitting on a log on the beach just steps away. Why not!

Bread & Honey is a real gem that you need to try. Open for breakfast and lunch only, Wednesday through Sunday from 8-3. Reservations recommended.
163 Harrison, Parksville.

Just saying…

Sent from my iPhone

 

 

 

plusA Side of really good, finely shredded hash browns too.

Tamara, my server, was friendly efficient and charming. She told me the current owners have been in business about two years. Chef/owner Michael Sprour has previously cooked at Tyna Mara and the Beach Club and has won the Island Chef of the year award.

My friend Mike tells me I must go for lunch and try the grilled AHI sandwich. The best EVER. he claims. Tamara told me to try the Rueben and the Seafood Chowder and I will.

Bread & Honey is liscenced with a modest selection of beer wine and cocktails.

They also have a take out menu that features soups, salads breakfast sandwiches, and even two varieties of eggs Benny! Who does take out Eggs Benny? I suppose One could and enjoy it sitting on a log on the beach just steps away. Why not!

Bread & Honey is a real gem that you need to try. Open for breakfast and lunch only, Wednesday through Sunday from 8-3. Reservations recommended.
163 Harrison, Parksville.

Just saying…

Sent from my iPhone

The other night I met my brother in law for dinner at Lefty’s in Parksville.  We have dined several times at their Qualicum Beach location but never in Parksville.  If you have not been, it is right beside Thrifty’s.

The restaurant was a nice surprise, much nicer than I expected. The dinner menu runs from salads ( a good variety) to Burgers to Seafood, Ribs and Steak. I chose the spicey Thai Prawns which were served with rice. Delicious. Murray had a fabulous looking burger. We washed it down with O’Douls Amber which was served icy cold.

On a Wednesday in January, Lefty’s was not very busy so the service was prompt and charming.

If you don’t feel like cooking and want a really good lunch or dinner that is delicious and not too pricey, you ought to try Lefty’s Fresh Food Restaurant. I’m planning on trying their patio this summer. It looks like a good wine sipping spot.

Lefty’s has been in business since 1996.  Flourishing for over 20 years is an indication of a well run operation with consistently good food.

Just saying…

With just 1700 miles to the finish line in Les Sables d’Olonne, France, Englishman Alex Thomson on HUGO BOSS has a real chance to catch up to race leader Armel LE CLÉAC’H.  Only 113 miles seperate the two.  Thompson led much of the race as they headed south down the Atlantic two months ago  he only fell into second after damaging one of the hull foils on his boat after hitting an unidentified floating object. The damage affected his speed on one tack so he has been handicapped all the way across the Southern Ocean and the climb back up the Atlantic

This morning he is running about a knot faster than Armel.  Thomson says he needs to be within 50 miles of the to have a chance of catching him.  It could be an exciting finish to this amazing race. Can the BANQUE POPULAIRE III maintain the lead?  In just a few days we will know.

In  third place is skipper Jeremie Beyou on MAITRE COQ, but he is 561 miles behind the leader and there is not enough time left for him to catch Thomson.  The rest of the fleet is spread out over 8000 miles and I’m sure most of those adventurers will be happy just to finish.

An epic journey.

Just saying…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Although I spent most of my career in hospitals as a supplier of orthopaedic implants, we have had almost no personal experience as patients in our health care system. Recently we have had some experience and despite the illness involved, we have been very impressed with the system.

Two visits to the Oceanside Health Care Centre in Parksville were very positive experiences. The facility is excellent, well equipped and well run. The nursing staff were efficient, knowledgeable, caring, and thoughtful. The two staff doctors with whom we dealt were also very good. We are fortunate to have this great facility in Oceanside.

We also had occasion to partake of the BC Paramedic Service. My favourite girl fell ill just before New Years and I called 911. The two paramedics arrived promptly and were very impressive. Gentle, thoughtful, and competent. This is a wonderful service. (As an aside, not everyone gives their partner an ambulance ride for their wedding anniversary).

If you have had occasion to visit the Emergency Room at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, you will know that it is an amazing, very large, state of the art department. Certainly the best I’ve ever seen and I’ve seen many in my career. The staff are terrific, too. Nanaimo has become the major trauma centre on the island outside of Victoria and they certainly have the facility to handle it.

With my sweetheart now on a ward I can comment on nearly two weeks of the health care system. The Registered Nurses are fantastic. On the 3rd floor at Nanaimo Regional, they are all young, mostly in their 20’s or early 30’s. They too, are efficient, knowledgeable, compassionate, and charming. They all work 12 hour shifts and seem to really enjoy their jobs.

The Health Care Aids are delightful. Not a glamorous job, for sure, but they do the tough task of moving patients, helping them with hygiene and daily needs. These ladies have even helped feed our patient. All of the aides we have encountered do their job with  dedication, enthusiasm and a smile. They are the unsung heroes.

Finally, we have interfaced with three Hospitalists. These are doctors who only work in the hospital. General Practitioners or Family physicians by training, they work on salary and look after in-patients. As a result, it is unnecessary for your own doctor to visit patients in the hospital. It’s a relatively new specialty. In Nanaimo, the Hospitalist service began about 13 years ago and it seems to work really well.

Complain about the Health Care System in BC?  Not us. Our experience has been first class.

Kudos to all the doctors, nurses, aides, and paramedics.
Just saying…